Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove: Staging internationals has been a great chance to advertise ourselves

They are one of only two grounds - Old Trafford in Manchester is the other - who will be hosting behind-closed-doors England games in 2020.

The Ageas Bowl last month staged the first Test against the West Indies, and have recently hosted the three-game ODI series against Ireland.

Later this month, they will welcome the second and third Tests against Pakistan. One-day games - either ODIs or T20s - could follow against Australia in September.

At one stage it looked as if there would be no international cricket this summer due to the pandemic.

The cricket authorities and the venues, however, have worked wonders to ensure this didn't happen.

So far it can only be described as a big success for the ECB and both stadiums.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove is proud of the way all the staff and players have reacted at The Ageas Bowl to make it such a huge success.

He believes the events have further enhanced the ground’s reputation and hopes it could help push it higher up in the pecking order for future international recognition.

'We have found ourselves in a truly unique situation,' said Bransgrove.

'All of us have had to think on our feet and get used to what has become the new normal.

'It has been very difficult and only now are we finding out what the long-term effects of this coronavirus are.

'In some ways it has been very fortunate for us.

'We have struggled in the past to attract the amount of international cricket and major matches here we thought we warranted.’

Bransgrove has made no secret of the fact his dream is to see The Ageas Bowl hosting an Ashes Test match.

He has been left annoyed and frustrated that Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium has been handed two Ashes Tests and Durham’s Riverside one since 2009.

The Ageas Bowl is the only one of the nine Test grounds in England and Wales not to have been given an Ashes match.

The earliest that can now happen is 2027.

'Whenever we have staged games, they have been a great success,’ said Bransgrove.

'That is why I have been disappointed that we still found ourselves towards the back of the queue.

'Given the facilities we have here for bio security, I think we may get more consideration.

'This pandemic isn't going to go away very suddenly.

'Safety of players will need to be a long term consideration for the ECB.

'We are well placed in that respect to receive major events.

'It has given us a great filip here and an opportunity to demonstrate the fantastic range of resources we have here.

'Albeit without spectators, but it has been a chance to advertise ourselves as what I think is one of the country’s great stadia.

'For that reason, we are very proud to be hosting these games.'

Bransgrove admits the pandemic has thrown up a completely different challenge in preparing for the recent internationals.

A lot of people have worked hard to ensure that the games could go ahead.

'We faced a totally new element of ensuring bio security,' said Bransgrove.

'This is something that is very strictly imposed here and made us think about how we handle people in this kind of environment.'

The Ageas Bowl had just six weeks to get everything sorted, prepared and ready to go.

'The biggest thing for us was to ensure it is completely safe.

'The West Indies particularly were quite nervous about travelling at first.

'We managed to convince them it was safe and we have shown that we can house teams in completely safe environments.

'In many respects, the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford are the safest places to be on earth right now.

'A key note in all the buildings is the one-way system that we introduced.

'We have organised it so that different groups are in different bubbles.

'We like to think that what we have achieved is another feather in our cap.'

Bransgrove also praised the efforts of the staff and players at Hampshire Cricket who have also faced a summer of disruption.

The domestic county cricket season only began last Saturday - the best part of a month after England began their Test series against the Windies at The Ageas Bowl.

Even recreational cricketers were able to play matches before Hampshire’s players lifted the curtain on their truncated first class season with a Bob Willis Trophy loss against Sussex at Hove.

'Our players have been magnificent because they have not been able to use our facilities to train,' said Bransgrove.

'A lot of our work has been done out of the county at Arundel in Sussex.

'We recognised that we couldn't play our home games at the Ageas Bowl.

'So the commitment of the players, and in fact all our staff, to the club can't be questioned.

'They have been exemplary and helped us get through all the issues.

'It has also given some of our younger players an opportunity to perform.'

That is undoubtedly true, with 20-year-old seamer Ajeet Dale handed his first class debut at Hove.

Fellow fast bowler Scott Currie, 19, played alongside Dale in a two-day 1st XI friendly against Sussex leading up to the Willis Trophy opener.

The likes of Felix Organ and Harry Came - both 21 - and Joe Weatherley, 23, took their places in Hampshire’s top order at Hove.

Despite the fact cricket has returned, Bransgrove admits the game is missing some of its most important elements.

'As a club we pride ourselves on a great family ethic,' he said.

'We encourage players' families to come along and families as a whole to support the cricket.

'That is something that we have missed.

'All they have been able to do, like most of us, is watch the cricket on the television.

'We are continuing to work with the ECB and the government to allow some crowds back into the ground as soon as we can.

'The safety of all concerned, however, will remain paramount in every sense.'

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